What are drywood termites, and how do I know if I have them?
Drywood termites are termites that live entirely inside dry, sound wood with no contact with the soil — and the giveaway is the small pile of hard, six-sided pellets they push out of the wood, often mistaken for sand or coffee grounds. That's the fast answer. The longer one matters in Florida, because we have more than one kind of termite, and telling drywood apart from the far more common subterranean termite changes everything about how it's treated.
Table of contents
- The signs of drywood termites
- Drywood vs. subterranean: the difference that drives treatment
- Why drywood termites can show up anywhere in the house
- Get the species confirmed before you treat
- Treatment options and next steps
- FAQ
The signs of drywood termites
Drywood termites are secretive, so you usually find the evidence before the insects. Watch for:
- Fecal pellets (frass). Hard, distinctly six-sided pellets, about the size of sand grains, that collect in small piles beneath infested wood. The University of Florida notes this pellet shape is a hallmark of drywood termites, a result of how efficiently they reclaim water from their waste.
- Discarded wings. After a swarm, winged reproductives shed their wings, leaving small piles near windowsills and light sources.
- Tiny kick-out holes. Small holes in the wood surface where pellets are pushed out, sometimes sealed back up.
- Hollow-sounding or blistered wood. Tapping reveals a papery or hollow sound where galleries run beneath the surface.
Drywood vs. subterranean: the difference that drives treatment
Florida has three broad termite groups — subterranean, drywood, and dampwood — and the distribution and species across the state are well documented by UF/IFAS. For a homeowner, the practical split is drywood versus subterranean:
- Subterranean termites nest in the soil and travel up into the structure through pencil-width mud tubes on foundations and walls. They're generally the most destructive termites in Florida and need soil contact to survive.
- Drywood termites live their whole lives inside the wood itself, with no soil contact and no mud tubes — they leave pellets instead.
If you're seeing mud tubes, that's subterranean and a different treatment path. If you're seeing pellets and discarded wings with no mud, you're likely looking at drywood and dampwood territory. Mixing these up wastes money on the wrong treatment.
Why drywood termites can show up anywhere in the house
Here's the part that surprises homeowners: drywood termites don't need a leak or damp wood. They survive on the small amount of moisture in normal, dry lumber. That means they can infest attic framing, roof timbers, door and window frames, hardwood floors, and even wooden furniture — places nowhere near a water source. So a drywood infestation isn't a sign your home is damp or poorly kept; it's a sign a swarm found exposed or unprotected wood at some point.
Get the species confirmed before you treat
UF/IFAS makes a point that's easy to underestimate: the workers of different termite species look nearly identical, and accurate identification often comes down to the wings of swarmers or the soldiers, which an expert checks. For a homeowner, that's the case for not guessing. A licensed inspector can confirm whether it's drywood or subterranean and, just as importantly, how far it has spread inside walls and framing where you can't see.
This is also the honest reason to be wary of any company that quotes a big treatment before it has actually identified and scoped the problem. Correct ID first, treatment second.
Treatment options and next steps
Treatment depends on scope. A small, contained drywood infestation in one accessible area may be handled with a localized treatment. A widespread one is where whole-structure fumigation comes in. Because the right choice hinges on how far it has spread, the inspection drives the decision.
In Florida, pest control is licensed through the state Department of Agriculture, so hire a licensed company and ask them to show you the evidence behind their recommendation. Our pest control directory and Tampa city page list licensed local companies, and you can compare more across the full directory. If a termite issue has already damaged structural wood, you may also need a remodeling or repair contractor once the colony is dealt with.
FAQ
How do I know if I have drywood termites? The classic sign is small, six-sided fecal pellets — often described as looking like coffee grounds or sand — piling up below infested wood. You may also see discarded wings after a swarm or tiny kick-out holes in the wood surface.
What's the difference between drywood and subterranean termites? Subterranean termites nest in soil and build mud tubes to reach wood; drywood termites live entirely inside dry wood with no soil contact and leave pellets instead of mud. Subterranean termites are generally the more destructive of the two in Florida.
Can I treat drywood termites myself? Spot treatments exist for a single accessible piece of wood, but it's hard to tell how far an infestation has spread inside walls and framing. A licensed pest control company can confirm the species and scope before you commit.
Do drywood termites mean my house is damp? No. Unlike dampwood termites, drywood termites get by on the moisture in sound, dry wood, which is why they can infest attics, framing, and furniture far from any leak.
How are drywood termites treated? Options range from localized treatments for a contained infestation to whole-structure fumigation when it's widespread. Which one fits depends on how far it has spread, so accurate identification comes first.